Chapter 3: Occasion

Of course the bravado she'd shown Evan only got Jennifer as far as her office. And then all the doubts assailed her and she dropped weakly to her chair, wondering what had come over her. Sure, Evan had kissed her - had seemed like he was enjoying it too - but that didn't mean he wanted to do it again. What had possessed her to challenge him like that? She'd barely known the man a week in real terms even though they'd been in the city together for two years. It was all moving too fast and if she were honest, the feeling of being out of control made her uncomfortable.

Luckily for her she wouldn't have to confront him again for a couple of days - his team was scheduled for an overnight mission and wouldn't be back until late the following day. That's why she'd gone to his quarters, to ... "oh, damn it!" Jennifer shot up from her seat again, quickening her steps as she headed for the Gateroom.

Evan was already standing in front of the gate, fully kitted out with the tac vest and the P90 and an all business expression. He looked dangerous and sexy and ... "don't go there Jenn," she told herself. He was talking to Reed and didn't notice her approach until she was right in front of him.

"Jennifer?" Evan's brows rose when he saw her standing there, shifting from foot to foot nervously.

"I ah ... I forgot to tell you something before," Jennifer began, speaking too quickly. "Although that was hardly my fault ... you distracted me," she added defensively. She looked at Reed standing next to his CO with an expression on his face that said he found their conversation more than a little interesting, and swallowed nervously.

"What did you want to tell me?" Evan took her elbow and steered her away from his team, giving them a small measure of privacy.

"Well actually I wanted to say something and then give you this," Jennifer handed him an envelope, watching his face as he took it with a puzzled expression. "Happy Birthday," she whispered softly, taking her courage firmly in hand and leaning up to kiss his cheek.

He seemed stunned, and she wondered if she'd done the wrong thing. Maybe no one knew it was his birthday for a reason.

"How did you ...?" Evan turned the envelope over in his hands like he'd never seen one before.

"CMO privilege," Jennifer said simply. "I looked at your file last week and I just noticed the date ... because it was so close I guess and because it's a milestone birthday. You don't mind, do you?"

"Ah ... no," Evan was actually lost for words. Birthdays came and went and he honestly didn't pay them much attention. It wasn't his thing ... maybe because birthdays always put you centre stage and he'd never enjoyed being there. He hadn't kept it a secret as such; he'd just never mentioned it and no one else had thought to either. Until Jennifer. "I ah ... I appreciate it Jennifer. Thank you."

"You're welcome," Jennifer smiled. "You might want to open that card when you're alone though ... initially I was thinking to embarrass you with your team - revenge for that blackmail comment - but after this morning ...," she broke off, blushing again.

"Right," Evan stood for a moment, innocent looking envelope in hand, and wondered what in the hell she'd put in there. "Right," he said again, stuffing it inside his tac vest. "I'll do that." He looked at her, standing there so uncertain but so determined too and couldn't help but acknowledge that somehow. Raising a hand he brushed it lightly over her hair, ending with a teasing tug of her pony tail. "I've gotta go," he told her.

Stepping back she smiled. "Of course. Have a nice day Evan."

"You too Jennifer," Evan returned, the two of them unconsciously moving closer to the gate again, to where his team were all waiting. "I'll ah ... I'll see you when I get back."

"Hey Doc, you looking for a spot on the team today?" Coughlin asked, teasing. Reed and Parish moved closer, all of them looking at the Doctor expectantly.

"Why, are you planning on needing medical attention?" Jennifer asked pointedly. "Because we've got a new shipment of needles ... extra sharp."

"Ah ... no, no," Coughlin held up his hands innocently.

"Dial it up Chuck," Evan looked up to the Control Room and made that circular motion all the team leaders used to signal the dialling sequence. "Say goodbye to the Doc Coughlin."

"Goodbye to the Doc Coughlin," Nate repeated obediently.

Evan rolled his eyes with a long suffering sigh, getting a laugh out of Jennifer. "Good help is so hard to come by," he quipped.

She was still chuckling when the wormhole stabilised and Lorne's team got the go ahead to proceed. Jenn didn't usually stand around watching the teams leave but something made her stick today as one by one the four men disappeared through the event horizon. Evan was last ... he glanced back and gave her one of those rare genuine smiles that had her heart stumbling before he disappeared too. She was still standing there, lost in thought when the gate shut down.

"So, you and the Major huh?"

Jennifer jumped, putting a hand over her heart as she turned to John. "Don't sneak up on me like that!" she protested.

"I didn't sneak," John said innocently. "I guess your attention was elsewhere."

"Oh," Jennifer glanced around, relieved that her impromptu farewell scene with Evan hadn't had too big an audience. "Sorry." She smiled awkwardly, nodding and then headed for the infirmary.

"So ... how long has this been going on Doc?" John fell into step beside her.

"How long has what been going on?" Jennifer shot back evasively as they walked into the infirmary.

"You ... Major Lorne ... public kisses ... touching farewells ... should I go on?"

"No!" Jennifer grabbed John's arm and pulled him into her office. "Okay - what do you want?"

"Nothing," John insisted. "I'm happy for you okay. I was just gonna say that I approve."

"Well, that's all well and good Colonel but I don't need your approval for who I can date," Jennifer retorted irritably.

"So you are dating Major Lorne!" John grinned when Jennifer growled in frustration.

"No ... yes ... I don't know!" Jennifer paced away and then turned back to him. "Don't you dare tell anyone about this!"

"Wasn't planning on it ... although you do realise I could make a killing in the betting pools right now," Sheppard held up his hands, the picture of innocence, when Jennifer glared at him accusingly. "Hey, I said I could, not that I was going to."

"Okay," Jennifer deflated suddenly, rubbing her eyes tiredly.

"You want some advice?" Sheppard asked quietly. It wasn't usual for him to dip into what was strictly a personal situation, but he had his reasons this time, driven by more than just his regard for both Major Lorne and Doctor Keller. And talking personal stuff was always easier when it wasn't about you.

"I don't know, do I?" Jennifer returned.

"He's a good man Jenn ... one of the best," John said simply. "Don't let him step back."

"But what if he really doesn't want this?" Jennifer asked uncertainly.

"Oh trust me, he wants it," Sheppard smirked. "I hate to embarrass you by mentioning it but from what I saw this morning, both of you want this."

"God," Jennifer hid her blush behind her hands. Peering out at John she groaned before dropping her hands. "That was ... well I don't know what it was but lust had a pretty big part. You and I both know there's a huge gap between lust and having a relationship. You might want the first without having any interest in the second."

"True, and I know you don't know Lorne that well yet," John agreed. "I do, so believe me when I tell you he's not the type to go for one without the other. Why do you think the betting pool on him is so high? As far as I know you're the first woman he's even looked at in the romantic sense since he's been here."

"Really?" Jennifer asked with a mixture of hope and delight.

"Yeah," John shrugged. "So like I said - don't give him room to back away. Lorne'll do the honourable thing even when it's not required. You might have to be pretty blatant to get the message through."

"I'm not sure I can be," Jennifer admitted. "I mean, I know I'm talking to you about it, no problem, but with Evan it's different."

"That's because you don't want to jump my bones," Sheppard pointed out teasingly.

"Oh I don't know Colonel," Jennifer returned sagely. "You are quite attractive and in demand ... from what I've heard."

"Right, well my work here is done so I'll be going now," John said quickly, ignoring Jenn's laugh.

She waited until he was at the door before she spoke. "John ... thank you."

"You're welcome."

Evan waited until they'd completed day one of their mission, set up camp and all the guys had retired for the night leaving him taking first watch. Their negotiations with the two closest villages to the gate had gone well, each securing a much needed item in exchange for medical assistance from Atlantis. Hopefully the following days visits to two other villages would go equally well.

Not that they were admitting where they were from these days. As far as their contacts knew Atlantis had been destroyed and they'd all been made refugees. Lorne felt a little guilty telling that lie to everyone but it was necessary - if they were to have a real impact on the plight of these people they needed to be able to move freely around the galaxy without the Wraith being camped out at the door. Medical supplies and expertise were the hot item for trading - everyone wanted a doctor's visit and health checks for all their people. He'd have to bring Jennifer back to the planet within a few weeks to live up to their end of the bargain.

Thinking about Jennifer brought him back to the card she'd given him that morning ... staring down at it uncertainly he laughed quietly at himself. "It's a birthday card Evan," he told himself. "It's not gonna bite."

Opening it, he drew out the card, looking at the front under the light of his torch.

"Life begins at 40," he read. "But so do fallen arches, rheumatism, faulty eyesight, and the tendency to tell a story to the same person three or four times." The words were accompanied by the sorriest looking cartoon guy he'd ever seen. It was appropriate and had him grinning even as he wondered where the hell Jennifer had managed to get a birthday card on such short notice.

Evan turned the front over to look inside, not sure he really wanted to know what else it said, but then started laughing as soon as he read what Jennifer had written.

"Lucky for you, you have a Doctor around who can help you with all of these. If you play your cards right." She'd underlined the 'if' more than once to make her point. "Happy 40th Birthday Evan ... Jennifer."

Realising he had a goofy grin on his face, Evan stuffed the card back in the envelope and returned it to the inside pocket of his vest. The fact that he fully intended to keep it was nobody's business but his.

"That what the Doc gave you this morning Sir?" Nate Coughlin asked from the shadows.

Okay, nobody's but his and his 2IC's. "Sorry?" Evan went for innocent obliviousness, knowing it wouldn't work. He might be the superior officer but you didn't build a team by standing on your rank every second of the day – at least not one he wanted to be a part of. He cut his guys some slack and in return they gave him their loyalty, their dedication, and their respect.

"The envelope Doctor Keller gave you this morning," Nate persisted. "The one you just opened that made you laugh Sir."

"Sorry if I disturbed you Sergeant," Evan replied.

"That's okay Sir," Nate grinned. "I was wondering how long it would take you to open it. Couldn't sleep for wondering about it."

"Well I'm sorry if my personal correspondence is keeping you awake," Lorne quipped. "Maybe you should get back to your tent - you've got the next watch and it'll be a long night if you don't get some sleep first."

"Yes Sir," Nate hesitated and then spoke again. "But just so you know, me and the guys approve. The Doc is one in a million."

"We're just friends," Evan felt compelled to point out.

"With all due respect Sir, if that's true then you're an idiot," Coughlin stated firmly. "She likes you Sir ... so if you can't man up? I'm not saying we'd question your leadership qualities Sir, but ...," he didn't finish, letting his CO fill in the blanks.

"Right," Evan felt the sudden urge to laugh, wondering when his ability to lead a team had begun to be measured by whether he could ask a woman out on a date or not. "Well, I'll take that under advisement."

"I hope so Sir," Coughlin replied.

"Goodnight Sergeant," Lorne said pointedly.

"Night, Sir." Nate stopped just outside the tent entrance. "Oh, and Sir?"

"Yes Sergeant?" Evan returned patiently.

"Happy Birthday."

Authors Note:

Yeah, maybe it's corny posting a chapter where Lorne has a birthday on Kavan Smith's birthday (although they're not the same day – Stargate wiki lists Lorne's birthday as being 22nd July 1970) – and it probably counts as false advertising to call this special when I said I had a special chapter planned, but there you go. I had the idea of posting something Lorne-centric on Kavan's birthday and I have often wondered if you'd made a big deal of birthdays in a place like Atlantis (for morale boosting, team building etc) so I went with it! Oh, and the front of the birthday card comes from a Helen Rowland quote over at thinkexist.

More coming soon ....